Today's Ride

[PhillB]

Usually this time of year is quieter at work, but this year we have been crazy busy. Whilst that is great, it has limited my lunchtime rides to zero over the past couple of weeks . So, it's been a couple of weeks since I finished this restoration and I had only taken it for a spin around the block. Today, I got to take it out for a longer ride.
The park is lovely all year round. I think I notice the seasons more as I get older. The light was interesting today alternating between cool and warm tones.

I took my time and stopped here for and extortionately priced, but very nice coffee.


The park was closed recently due to damage from Storm Bert... Although this one has been down for a while.

After a cold week, it was really warm today 14.5C at one point. No wind and dry but also damp... if you know what I mean!

 

[KayOs]

Today I had the choice of decorating for Christmas or going biking in 2°C.

So I put on a record of Christmas carols, made some tea and......left the house in a hurry
and off I went up the hills into the forest

What can I say, best decision ever, it was lovely and when I got back the star was already shining.

 

[Gtpulse]

Near Corby isn't it? Sure I passed it on a day trip to Adrenaline Alley around 2008/2009. Shame daylight is so short now since there's a couple good ones in my region but not enough time to reach em, Hownsgill for example which I think is on the c2c route. Ah well, always next summer!

It certainly is near Corby though I get to it from the opposite end. Friday 1/2 day ride seemed like a full day with the shorter daylight hours. Some of the tracks and bridleway are getting too muddy to be enjoyable too.

 

[Suprachrgd82]

 

[moonlite]

My nephew's wedding at our house this weekend, meaning the last two weeks have been a whirlwind of painting, gardening, rushing around buying foodstuffs, paper plates, etc. etc. Of course, the mini-drought we had been experiencing broke on Friday, bringing a 36-hour 'rain bomb' -- a slow-moving front depositing a constant downpour on the region. Cue the hasty order of a huge marquee, delivered on Friday morning a mere hour or two before the heavens opened.

Thing is, the wedding still went off beautifully, with boozing and dancing until the wee hours. I had the dubious honour of witnessing what apparently is a New South Wales ritual: a certain song by an Aussie band I'd never heard of which prompts all the men to remove their trousers -- something I declined to do on the grounds that I am foreign. The young couple are a lovely pair and were up painfully early this morning, collecting bottles and cans and tidying up. Mrs Moon and self were considerably less spry, with dry mouths and creaking limbs as we emerged feeling decidedly fragile.

Anyway, the rain had stopped at around midnight and after the last sack of trash had been delivered to the tip this afternoon, I ventured out to make up for a lack of mileage this week. It was cloudy and muggy, with a stiff breeze gusting up to 36 kph which was a bit of a trial in the early stages of the ride, but wonderful coming home when it was at my back. The rain had washed away some bits of the gravel sections of the ride, but overall it was great to be out and breathing some fresh air while the post-alcohol toxins sweated their way out. And so home for tea and a siesta.

 

[Piotr]

 

[db95]

Nice to get out after a weekend full of flats 44.5km and 448m elev.

 

[Piotr]

ruins of the old fort

 

[db95]

Obligatory "this was yesterday" disclaimer 41.3km, 411m elevation.

Last few outings have been far too muddy and slippy for my liking, was half debating going for the Smoke/Dart combo but the overly muddy bridleways make up such a small amount of my routes (they're usually the quickest way to get to cycle paths/ncn/etc) that I figured those tyres would be detrimental when the rest of the routes end up being paved/tarmac cycle paths, some road, etc and it'd be better to just avoid those parts entirely. Could've stuck with the Billy Bonkers but given the bad run of flats I've had recently I've ordered some Panaracer Pasela PT's in 1.75 which should hopefully put an end to the flats and also speed things up a bit.

 

[Gtpulse]

Obligatory "this was yesterday" disclaimer 41.3km, 411m elevation.

Last few outings have been far too muddy and slippy for my liking, was half debating going for the Smoke/Dart combo but the overly muddy bridleways make up such a small amount of my routes (they're usually the quickest way to get to cycle paths/ncn/etc) that I figured those tyres would be detrimental when the rest of the routes end up being paved/tarmac cycle paths, some road, etc and it'd be better to just avoid those parts entirely. Could've stuck with the Billy Bonkers but given the bad run of flats I've had recently I've ordered some Panaracer Pasela PT's in 1.75 which should hopefully put an end to the flats and also speed things up a bit.

I had several rides spoiled by multiple flats from hawthorn cuttings on consecutive rides. I moved to tubeless end of September I think and fingers crossed not a single flat since then. I had resisted for a very long time. Was great earlier on to see a big bit of hawthorn earlier on stuck in my tyre to the extent it was attached to a twig that was whacking against the stays. I pulled it out and saw a little bubble of sealant then nothing else, tyre still nice and firm! Must say though when it gets muddy especially clay I pick up enough for it to stop me spinning sometimes. My mate is still running horrible Schwalbe Marathons something like 26*1.9 with little tread on them - he slithers across muddy fields with very little bother. In 1000s of miles with him in the same tyres I’ve only ever known him get one flat, think they are as thick as a car tyre!